Glow-In-The-Dark Art Show About Immigrants To Premier In Flushing

FLUSHING, QUEENS -- Dancers, sculptures and UV lights will take over the outdoor terrace of Queens Botanical Garden on Friday for the premier of a glow-in-the-dark interactive art show about immigrants.

"SHED" - an hourlong performance starting at 9 p.m. - will use costumes, dance, music, light and sculptures to paint a metaphoric picture of the "collective immigrant experience" in the Flushing urban oasis at 43-58 Main Street, the Queens Council of Arts said on its website.

The performance is the brainchild of choreographer and dancer Chuan Xie, who was picked from nearly 100 applicants to receive the QCA's first Artist Commissioning Program award, which granted her $10,000 to bring the performance to life.

SHED centers around three pyramid sculptures, which dancers will slowly alter throughout the show. As performers' movements crack the pyramids, its plaster surface will begin to give way to the glow-in-the-dark layers hidden underneath, according to the QCA website.

Xie, a Chinese-born artist living in Queens, said the project aims to depict the reality of many immigrants whose identities are hidden to onlookers.

"The alien environment created through the black light turns the familiar human form into that of a universal essence, asking the audience to reexamine their relationship to color," Xie wrote.

Xie said she and her team specifically chose to preview their work at the Queens Botanical Garden, which she called a "hidden gem" that can bring art to unexpected places in the city.

SHED is free and open to the public, but registration is required. The gardens will open at 8:30 p.m. for the performance and a reception will follow.

Lead photo of the Queens Botanical Garden entrance via Google Maps